Madison Media Digest: Police, Community, Environment

Here’s what we were reading while trying to find Hodagosaurus in a paleontology textbook

Police

The Capital Times praised the dialogue opened between the police department and the Young, Gifted and Black coalition about disparities related to law enforcement. Two weeks ago, Capital City Hues profiled Brandi Grayson, organizer of the group, which has organized in response to what it says are disparities in how certain communities in Madison are policed.  Police Chief Mike Koval has objected to some of the group’s claims about the police department on his own blog.

Also, Madison police have started a new unit to target violent crime.

Community

Writing for In Business, Sam Owens asks whether the Justified Anger coalition has yet developed the business expertise to craft an effective program of economic reforms targeted at racial disparity in Madison. The JMM Rock Music Collective gives Memorial High students a chance to bond over music. Blackhawk Country Club is seeking to renegotiate its lease with Shorewood Hills due to falling revenues. Madison’s Diocese is converting its former headquarters into private apartments, and in the process giving away massive amounts of furniture. Sales of Street Pulse, a newspaper devoted to homeless issues, have risen with the group selling 6,000 papers last month. The Dane County Regional Airport expects a $2 million surplus for 2014, while General Mitchell International Airport saw a decline in passengers. Area chefs are planning a one-week event in March that includes swapping kitchens and collaborations.

Environment

An effort to clean up the Baraboo River watershed won a $2M federal grant. A proposed reconstruction of Jenifer Street would see a third of the trees replaced. The Cap Times published an interactive map of snow removal violations across the city last winter, with the Greenbush neighborhood topping the list.